The book under review is a massive 1724-page comprehensive and substantial work giving an overall view of EU and UK competition law and is a valuable addition to the already existing and well-known textbooks on the subject. Furthermore, at a time when “Brexit” has finally become reality, a work that offers a detailed view of UK competition law is particularly useful as it will be necessary to become even more familiar with such a “separate” regime and to understand the differences and specifics of it.
The book has been written by renowned experts, namely: Ioannis Lianos (Professor of Global Competition Law and Public Policy, Faculty of Laws, University College London), Valentine Korah (Professor Emeritus of Competition Law, Faculty of Laws, University College London) and Paolo Siciliani (Expert, Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority).
It combines legal and an easy-to-read economic analysis and has been conceived by the Authors as a source of critical analysis and comment for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in competition law in the EU and in the UK and as a source of materials for practitioners. For these purposes, the book comprises analysis together with commentary and analysis of judgments, National Competition Authorities and Commission decisions, and legislation.
The book is divided into 12 Chapters, starting with an introduction to the main actors and a worth reading history of the EU and UK competition law systems. The Authors also deal with Brexit and its implications for competition law. Worth mentioning is Chapter 3 that deals with the economics of competition law, and in particular focuses on the notions and concepts of relevant market and market power. These are topical aspects of competition law especially in light of digital platforms and their role in the economy and in driving markets.
The remaining Chapters deal with the classic aspects of competition (Article 101 TFEU and its features, horizontal restrictions of competition, abuse of dominant position, distribution agreements and mergers).
The reader will always find a huge amount of case-law and doctrine analyzed and commented on. This will help students to learn and get into the subject matter and practitioners to find what they need for their daily job.
In conclusion, the book under review is a bargain. For a low price the reader will find a huge amount of knowledge and material put in it by first-class academics. Those looking for a clear, up-to-date and authoritative, yet very readable, account of EU and UK competition law, should look at this new casebook as an excellent alternative to other available textbooks.
Reviewed January 2020
Riccardo Sciaudone
Head of the European Law Observatory